ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PLANNING AND EVALUATION (SUPERVISORY TRIAL ATTORNEY)

The Assistant Director (AD) of the Office of Planning and Evaluation (OPE) provides oversight for analytical work conducted in OPE, including the Peer Review program, Debtor Auditor program, and serves as a legal expert on important policy and research studies. The incumbent is responsible for nationwide research and data collection, long-term planning, policy development, program evaluation and management, public outreach, leadership development, training, and records management. Specifically, the AD oversees the operation of four subordinate areas of OPE: Analysis and Evaluation, the National Bankruptcy Training Institute, Public Affairs and Communications, and Records Management.

Duties:
In this position, the successful candidate will:

• Oversee and supervise, through subordinate supervisors, all aspects of studies of the USTP and the bankruptcy system to evaluate the effectiveness of specific current and proposed bankruptcy program activities;
• Oversee the Peer Review program which is a formal assessment of field office compliance with legal standards, policies, and operational procedures. Review compliance with Program policies, evaluate the quality of work products, and analyze workflow with a view toward gauging and improving efficiency. Identify innovative approaches to complex legal bankruptcy issues and processes. This includes substantial interaction with program attorneys responsible for litigation;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's current Planning and Evaluation program, and design, implement, and evaluate studies designed to identify needs and support the agency's initiatives and contribute to the Department's strategic plan;
• Manage and oversee research conducted by senior government statisticians to report on program performance. Provide guidance and support in the development, analysis and preparation of Government Performance and Results Act indicators and outcome measures;
• Lead the National Bankruptcy Training Institute in designing customized, technically specific, legally sound bankruptcy curriculum and courses, as well as other needed legal trainings to improve programmatic results and delivery. Provide oversight of management development and leadership programs;
• Provide oversight and legal guidance to ensure the USTP complies with the Federal Records Act and the Department of Justice records management policies, practices, and records retention schedules;
• Oversees the preparation of all USTP publications and news releases, as well as ensuring the quality of the USTP website content. Conduct oral and written presentation of planning efforts, policy initiatives, productivity and effectiveness measures, research studies, and statistical analyses for a wide variety of audiences;
• Supervise subordinate staff; review work product; evaluate performance; interview job applicants; recommend appointments, promotions, separations, reassignments, and awards; provide instruction to individual employees and recommend attendance at training courses; effect minor disciplinary actions;
• Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with other components of the Department of Justice, such as the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Public Affairs, as well as other federal agencies and outside entities, including the Office of Management and Budget, major private trustee organizations, and the staff of Congressional oversight committees; and
• Work on other national projects and priorities, as assigned.

Required Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic and professional credentials; superior oral and written communication skills; outstanding legal research, statistical, analytical, and legal reasoning skills; outstanding judgment; experience managing people and programs; and the ability to function with minimal guidance in a demanding legal environment. Further, an applicant must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school; be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) in good standing; and have at least five (5) years post-J.D. professional legal or other relevant experience, interpreting or applying provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and related laws, rules, and regulations that arise in bankruptcy cases.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications listed above, the ideal candidate will have:

• A demonstrated record serving as an expert in one or more of the major functional areas such as such as bankruptcy, training and leadership development, evaluation and compliance, strategic planning, public outreach and communications, or federal records management;
• Prepared short- and long-term strategic or program plans;
• A demonstrated in-depth knowledge of bankruptcy rules, regulations, and policies;
• Experience with the principles of legal compliance evaluations and planning and will have applied these principles to completed evaluations;
• Experience with the Federal Records Act and related laws, rules, and regulations that arise in federal records management;
• Understanding of statistical evaluation processes and their application;
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;
• The ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical issues in studies and projects and make recommendations for improvements;
• The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills;
• Strong information technology skills, including using IT systems to manage and track work;
• Experience working with or for federal agencies; and
• A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Position is on the GS pay scale, full-time and permanent. The FPL of GS-15 and possible current annual salary range is GS-15 ($155,700 - $183,500). Years and type of experience will determine the appropriate grade level.

Periodic travel is required depending on work assignments and for training.

This vacancy announcement is open to ALL U.S. CITIZENS. To apply, interested candidates must submit ONE (1) PDF document containing the following:

• A cover letter that highlights the applicant’s interest in the position and addresses in detail how all qualifications are met;
• A current resume that details months and years of education and employment, and states the month and year of earliest bar admission;
• A short writing sample, or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed ten pages), which should be exclusively or primarily the applicant’s work;
• DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy) (if applicable);
• CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable); and
• Schedule (A) documentation, (if applicable).

Email the pdf document to: ustp.employment@usdoj.gov with the subject line Supervisory Trial Attorney-OPE-06-2023.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Relocation expenses may be authorized to current USTP employees only, based on USTP policy.

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